KISS Brings "Hottest Show On Earth" (Duh) To Woodlands

KISS returns to Houston for the second time in less than a year September 17. This time the monstrously monolithic classic-rockers will be gracing the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion for a tour they are calling the "Hottest Show on Earth." A local on-sale date will no doubt be announced soon, so whenever that is, they'll be available at livenation.com. Let's be honest, any outdoor show in Houston until at least early November is the hottest show on earth. The Pavilion's corn dogs and Shock Top beer don't alleviate matters when it comes to your skin burning on the lawn or needing a sweat rag while sitting in the reserved section. Kiss was last in Houston back in December at the Toyota Center, and Rocks Off turned in a sweetly rocking review of their show. We had never seen their spectacle, and so were suitably happy with what we got, even if we could see the strings on KISS' act now nearly 40 years into their career.

Pat Green may not sweat as much as KISS at this year's Freedom Over Texas Festival.

But the funny thing was, the band ended up taking our review, cutting out the parts they considered critical and republishing it on their site, www.kissonline.com. Now some would say that it's an honor to be somehow recognized by the band, and we agree for the most part. But it's not like Gene Simmons read the review or anything. More than likely, a PR flack took a razor to the Aftermath for their purposes, which is funny seeing that the piece was fine without being cut up like a line of coke backstage by a Buckcherry groupie. In other hotter-than-hell Houston outdoor summer concert news, no less than Mayor Annise Parker herself announced that frat-beloved buckaroo Pat Green will headline this year's Freedom Over Houston festival, which begins at 4 p.m. Sunday, July 4, in Eleanor Tinsley Park.

The rest of the entertainers spread over the event's four stages will be released at a later date. The annual Independence Day concert, which runs until 10 p.m., is free with a donation of one canned item (per person) to the Houston Food Bank.